303-279-1111 | 10395 W Colfax Ave Lakewood CO 80215 | info@goldenmusic.co | Open Sat/Sun 10a-5p, Mon-Thur 11a-7p 303-279-1111 | 10395 W Colfax Ave Lakewood CO 80215 | info@goldenmusic.co | Open Sat/Sun 10a-5p, Mon-Thur 11a-7p

Picking Your Instrument

 

BACK

What an Opportunity this is!

Music is an important part of your child's education and is a rewarding experience that will enrich your child's life for years to come. The opportunity for your child is now. As a parent, you have the chance to introduce your child to a beautiful and fulfilling world, to develop abilities and interests that may otherwise never be discovered.  We are available in our store to discuss all facets of this decision as well as let you try all the instruments out.

What instrument should I play?

It’s a bit of a loaded question, but a very important one for many beginning band and orchestra students at this time of year.

I’m going to start answering this question by asking another one:  what instruments are used in my school’s music program?  Some schools offer both a band and orchestra program and some only offer one or the other.  Here is the breakdown of instruments commonly used in a beginning band or orchestra program.

Band Program

  • Flute
  • Clarinet
  • Saxophone (Alto)
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Baritone/Euphonium
  • Percussion
  • French Horn

Orchestra Program

  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Double Bass

Your school might have a different set of instruments to pick from, so please check with your teacher.

Now that we know some options, what instruments do I like the best?

Are there one or two instruments that you just can’t resist?  You love the sound it makes and the way it looks and feels in your hands?  Well, this is a great place to start.

Warning, don’t just limit yourself to these options.  The perfect instrument for you may not be what you initially expected.

We’ve got a great starting point for our instrument selection….  Come in to Golden Music and let’s do a test play to see what it feels like to make a sound on each instrument!  We have private rooms where you can have a completely sterile tryout session.  A play test on your favorite instruments will help you to answer this question:  can I make a sound on it easily and do I like the sound?

It is always worth investing in private music lessons with a professional musician on your chosen instrument.  A private teacher can help you get that sound faster because they have 100% of their attention on you to help you succeed.

Another important question to consider while choosing your instrument: How heavy/big is it?  You would be surprised by the number of students that switch instruments or quit playing all together because of the size or weight of their chosen instrument.  The way I like to put it is this: when you choose to play an instrument you are committing to lug it around with you every day back and forth to school and home so you can practice.

PICKING YOUR INSTRUMENT

Instrument

Light

Heavy

Big

Medium

Small

Violin

X

X

Viola

X

X

Cello

X

X

Double Bass

X

X

Flute

X

X

Oboe

X

X

Clarinet

X

X

Alto Sax

X

X

Trumpet

X

X

Trombone

X

X

Bariton/Euphonium

X

X

Bassoon

X

X

Tuba

X

X

Percussion

X

X

Still can’t decide? If you still can’t decide which instrument is the right one for you after trying out a few different ones and thinking about the size and sound of them you should talk to your music teacher.  Your music teacher will be your number one resource for all your musical questions.  They are in music class with your student and will have great suggestions for you. You can also stop by Golden Music, email us, or post on Facebook any questions or concerns.  We are happy to help in any way that we can.

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